Bipolar DisorderIn Silver Linings Playbook

Psychological Basis

Bipolar Disorder• Bipolar Disorder is a brain disorder that causes

unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day to day tasks. • Symptoms include: mood swings, depression, anxiety,

anger, increased sex drive, impulsive behavior, dellusions, frenzied speaking, manic episodes . One may have really high highs, and extremely low lows.

Types of Bipolar Disorder• Bipolar I is characterized by one or more manic episodes or

mixed episodes (which is when you experience symptoms of both a mania and a depression). Typically a person will experience periods of depression as well. Bipolar I disorder is marked by extreme manic episodes.• Bipolar II disorder is diagnosed after one or more major

depressive episodes and at least one episode of hypomania, with possible periods of level mood between episodes.• The highs in bipolar II, called hypomania's, are not as high as

those in bipolar I (manias). Bipolar II disorder is sometimes misdiagnosed as major depression if hypomanic episodes go unrecognized or unreported.

Media

Silver Linings Playbook• Pat is just getting released from a mental hospital he was admitted to

for almost beating a coworker to death after finding him sleeping with his wife Nikki. He is determined to win his wife Nikki back by having a more positive outlook, by finding the silver linings. Pat is going through court mandated therapy to help deal with his issues.• Tiffany is a girl that Pat meets through a friend. Tiffany is a widow

dealing with the loss of her husband. She can be a little intimidating because she is so blunt and vulgar. Tiffany finds therapy and happiness through dancing.

Connection• In the lobby of Pat’s psychiatrist his & Nikki’s wedding

song is playing. The Doctor played it on purpose to see if it was still a trigger for Pat. • “Bravo, it’s still a trigger!” Pat is recognizing that he

can still be set off into manic outbursts which is a symptom of Bipolar Disorder. • In the same session Pat begins to explain he thought

his wife and his coworker were plotting against him which was a delusion (symptom of BD).

Connection• Pat starts to frantically explain to the psychiatrist the time he

caught his wife having an affair. He is speaking in a frenzy which is another sign of his Bipolar Disorder shining through. • In the same session Pat admits that he thought his wife and his

coworker were plotting against him which was a delusion another symptom of being Bipolar. • “Oh wow, I’ve been dealing with this my whole life.” Pat

realizes he has been undiagnosed Bipolar his entire life.

Connection• Pat goes to dinner at a friends and meets Tiffany. He once again goes

into a stage of frenzied speaking (Bipolar Disorder symptom) rambling to Tiffany about how he is going to start complimenting Nikki more often.

• On a date with Tiffany Pat becomes very sexual when Tiffany describes her hook ups with women. Him being overly sexual is another symptom of his illness.

Connection• Pat has a manic episode (a symptom of BD) when he cannot

find his wedding video. Waking his parents up at three in the morning, tearing the house apart causes him and his father to get into a physical altercation. • “It feels to me like you’re trying to hide my wedding video

mom!” Pat is being paranoid thinking his mom is plotting against him, showing another symptom of Bipolar Disorder.

My Take• I think this movie does a nice job of showing quite a

few symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. It shows the struggles one with the disorder has to go through everyday. It does a good job at showing that something as small as a song can set them off and ruin their whole day. I agree with Pat that not everyone with BD needs to be on medication. I think that more people would be okay with therapy and a few good friends like Tiffany is to Pat.

My References• https://

www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml

• http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_bipolar_types